Opposition chief pushes for early election, possibly in July

The president of the biggest Opposition party -- the Social Democrats (SDP) -- Zoran Milanovic, on Tuesday pushed for early election, possibly already in July, and for early dissolution of the national parliament given that there is no government.

"We are a country without a government and a reasonable initiative at this moment should be to dissolve parliament as soon as possible," Milanovic told reporters in the SDP headquarters in Zagreb.

The present situation was triggered by the people in the government and the SDP will not fall for the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party's trick aimed at saving Tomislav Karamarko, Milanovic said.

He underscored the SDP would discuss options regarding its position on the HDZ's initiative to impeach Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic, as well as its own initiative to impeach Karamarko.

He declined to say which position exactly would the SDP take, adding that it was clear that both options depended on the will of the SDP and its partners.

"The SDP will continue to talk about it and see what is the smartest and the most responsible thing to do to have the election as soon as possible," Milanovic said adding that this was a complex situation which required a tactical decision.

Beirut (dpa) - Syrian government forces and their allies advanced deeper into the shrinking rebel-held enclave in eastern Aleppo on Wednesday, seizing the Old City, while demanding the armed opposition groups leave the area.